Verify your identity? Facebook and YouTube requesting personal info.

[Overmind One]

YouTube videos with open comments may prevent you from commenting unless you "verify your identity" by providing them with your phone number so they can send you a text. They do not think email is good enough anymore? Giving them a phone number along with them already having your email address gives them a way to locate you physically. I do not see where verifying one's identity on YouTube in order to make a comment is going to help target advertising. Quora will not allow you to use other than your real name.

Facebook is asking for certain users to upload passports, driver licenses or other documents to verify. WTF? How many times will people have to see on the news and notice that one of the first things they do when discussing anyone is the content of their Facebook and/or Twitter accounts? There is just nothing much on the internet worth compromising my personal privacy to that degree.

 

[shavedape]

I was looking at Twitter awhile back because I was curious about a business account but they want a phone number now in order to set things up. Give me a break!

It's bad enough that email accounts are now requiring phone numbers. It's getting harder and harder to find a work-around to these stupid rules.

 

[Overmind One]

I was looking at Twitter awhile back because I was curious about a business account but they want a phone number now in order to set things up. Give me a break!

It's bad enough that email accounts are now requiring phone numbers. It's getting harder and harder to find a work-around to these stupid rules.

The "two-step verification" is a scam. It does NOT provide security, it actually compromises it. With your phone number alone, I can localize you. I can determine if that phone is a mobile or a landline, and what service you are using for the phone. This is all PUBLIC info. If I am a hacker, I can find your phone using "other" methods. If that number is associated with your posts on Facebook and Twitter and the NSA wants to ID you, it is a cinch. They can pinpoint your location by locating your phone via GPS or triangulation. If they have trouble locating you, they know who all your most frequently contacted friends are, and they even have photos of you and your friends and whatever else you have naively put up on there.

Facebook needs YOU, nobody needs Facebook even if they think they do.

 

[Bluce Ree]

Google Voice.

 

[Overmind One]

Google Voice.

How does that work? I have never used it.

 

[Bluce Ree]

How does that work? I have never used it.

Create a bogus Gmail account then add a Google Voice number to it. You can receive both calls and texts and you can send & receive SMS directly in your browser, keeping your cell completely out of it.

 

[Gatefan1976]

I could loose my ability to comment on youtube??

Wake me when I should give a crap about that..............

 

[Overmind One]

Create a bogus Gmail account then add a Google Voice number to it. You can receive both calls and texts and you can send & receive SMS directly in your browser, keeping your cell completely out of it.

Im loving this. I have it and I have set up forwarding to my phone using the Google Voice number in my actual email account which is now running with Google Apps. I have another throwaway one for my surfing account. You can even get voicemail online! I could see a thinphone set up with ChromiumOS

 

[Joelist]

Two factor authentication is not in and of itself a scam. Facebook's and Youtube's versions of it however are, as they rely on you supplying personal contact data.

The basic idea behind the method is sound and does provide higher security when correctly implemented. One example of a correct implementation is password plus a numerical code from something like RSA SecurID. Another example is using an Authenticator app on a smartphone:

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1066447?hl=en

Note that these methods do NOT rely on the user giving up personal data.

 

[Overmind One]

Two factor authentication is not in and of itself a scam. Facebook's and Youtube's versions of it however are, as they rely on you supplying personal contact data.

The basic idea behind the method is sound and does provide higher security when correctly implemented. One example of a correct implementation is password plus a numerical code from something like RSA SecurID. Another example is using an Authenticator app on a smartphone:

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1066447?hl=en

Note that these methods do NOT rely on the user giving up personal data.

Agreed, but these sites/entities asking for the two-step often choose which methods are acceptable. There is simply NOTHING that would compel me to upload a scan of my passport or driver license to Facebook or Twitter or any website not run by the government.

 

[Joelist]

Agreed, but these sites/entities asking for the two-step often choose which methods are acceptable. There is simply NOTHING that would compel me to upload a scan of my passport or driver license to Facebook or Twitter or any website not run by the government.

Exactly. If they REALLY want two step just implement one of the authenticator technologies that are web based - of which there are several.

 

[SerenityS]

Just wanted to add I got blocked from my account on FB yesterday and I am not going to be able to provide a photo of a drivers license or passport or whatever personal info they want for verification. I am not normally a suspicious person but why the H do they need that kind of info for a stupid FB page? I've had it for 10 years and have been innocently hanging out in my little corner of the FB world. Oh well...

 

[Overmind One]

Just wanted to add I got blocked from my account on FB yesterday and I am not going to be able to provide a photo of a drivers license or passport or whatever personal info they want for verification. I am not normally a suspicious person but why the H do they need that kind of info for a stupid FB page? I've had it for 10 years and have been innocently hanging out in my little corner of the FB world. Oh well...

Wow...an actual victim to talk to! I have heard of this happening, but I do not know of anyone this actually happened to. Why did they block you? I also do not understand why Facebook would need that type of information. If they ever got hacked, somebody could take that information and steal your identity. I am so glad I got off Facebook shortly after getting on. I have an account for this place, but that is it. I never use it. I wonder if it is blocked?

 

[SerenityS]

This is the first thing you see when you try to sign on:
We ask everyone on Facebook to use the name they go by in everyday life so friends know who they're connecting with.


Please provide identification that displays the name you'd like to confirm and use publicly on Facebook. Keep in mind that if you confirm a name other than the one currently on your profile, the name on your profile may be automatically updated with the name you confirm.
Learn more about why we require ID verification and the different types of ID we accept below.

Then under "What types of ID does Facebook accept" -

You can confirm your identity in 1 of 3 ways. When submitting documentation, please cover up any personal information we don't need to verify your identity (ex: credit card number, Social Security number). We encrypt people’s connections to Facebook by default, including IDs you send to us. We delete your ID information after verification is complete.

They then show you examples.

http://i63.tinypic.com/16i5v1u.jpg
http://i63.tinypic.com/2po7885.jpg
http://i65.tinypic.com/2nlrckj.jpg
(sorry for the links, I couldn't figure out how to get the images to show here)


Then they answer:

To upload a copy of your ID:

1. Take your ID and cover up any confidential information (ex: your license or passport number)
2. Scan or take a close-up picture of your ID
3. Make sure you can clearly see your name, birthday and photo
4. Save the photo to your computer
5. Go back to the contact form, click Upload and select the file containing your ID

Review the types of ID we accept.


And then:
What Happens to my ID after I upload it?
Your ID will be stored securely while we resolve your issue.

 

[SerenityS]

Also, I don't know why they pick certain names. Someone suggested they pick unusual names to verify, someone else said that perhaps I was reported (the only "off" thing I did on FB recently was to say how much I hated McKeller ) or perhaps it's just random...

 

[Overmind One]

Also, I don't know why they pick certain names. Someone suggested they pick unusual names to verify, someone else said that perhaps I was reported (the only "off" thing I did on FB recently was to say how much I hated McKeller ) or perhaps it's just random...

Mine is certainly weird! Tiberius Picard. And the avatar is a picture of my cat.

EDIT:

I just took a look over there at my Facebook account for here, and there is not much activity for a couple of years. No request to upload anything. But there really is nothing there.

 

[heisenberg]

lol someone actually made a fake name and went to the extent of shopping his passport fooling everyone including the media LOOOL! This is by far the best trolling attempt at the media I have ever seen! I always knew it was a practical joke this name. It was too good to be true. Enjoy for the Friday(Saturday) laughter

http://www.theage.com.au/technology...e-turns-out-to-be-a-hoax-20151125-gl840w.html

Anyway, you can still create gmail accounts without needing your mobile no. It's still doable, but obviously the reason why they ask for it is they want to know more about you. I find google more intrusive than any other organization out there. Infact, I cringe whenever I am forced to login to simply download a free app from their google play store. Btw, all your information is being secretly exchanged and sold without your knowledge. You want to know how ID theft happens? This is one of the reasons.

 

[Quetesh]

I had my identity used on Amazon a few years ago, and they hit my Paypal too. I had cops in my kitchen, it was a wake up call. I learned my lesson. I watch my accounts like a hawk. I changed all my privacy settings and have multiple blocks on trackers set up.

I use a nickname at my real FB and will never give a number. Neither Google nor FB will ever see a passport or ID from me. If needed I would kiss both goodbye. I also will also a double VPN if it comes down to it, I use single much of the time now. Frak em and their prying noses. My email on FB is an old unused one. My google is not really me and does not exist. You can give a number with a few digits off and it works, and same with an address, pick a address of a business in a town a few states away.

Keep your nose out of my crap FB and Google. I never comment or post just use IM and email for both. I deleted all unknown friends and have a non me account in my name I never use, I am thinking about filling it with fake info if FB irks me . I use 6 different handles on my online places now too. You know me because you do, or you would not.

I am not a ghost and some know me but I limit it as much as I can. Skype is my weakness. I want to keep it but if it became a problem I would change it and use bitcoin. I am not paranoid, I just like my right to having control over my private stuff.

 

[Overmind One]

I had my identity used on Amazon a few years ago, and they hit my Paypal too. I had cops in my kitchen, it was a wake up call. I learned my lesson. I watch my accounts like a hawk. I changed all my privacy settings and have multiple blocks on trackers set up.

I use a nickname at my real FB and will never give a number. Neither Google nor FB will ever see a passport or ID from me. If needed I would kiss both goodbye. I also will also a double VPN if it comes down to it, I use single much of the time now. Frak em and their prying noses. My email on FB is an old unused one. My google is not really me and does not exist. You can give a number with a few digits off and it works, and same with an address, pick a address of a business in a town a few states away.

Keep your nose out of my crap FB and Google. I never comment or post just use IM and email for both. I deleted all unknown friends and have a non me account in my name I never use, I am thinking about filling it with fake info if FB irks me . I use 6 different handles on my online places now too. You know me because you do, or you would not.

I am not a ghost and some know me but I limit it as much as I can. Skype is my weakness. I want to keep it but if it became a problem I would change it and use bitcoin. I am not paranoid, I just like my right to having control over my private stuff.

The thing is, those people who really know you are going to have your number and know about your private life because you LET THEM. The billion or so people on Facebook are not my friends and they never will be. Those friends of mine who are on it know I am not on it so they CALL ME because they have my number. I will not use my picture for logging onto Windows or any app, I will never use a game or app that wants to watch my gestures. I will not use any fingerprint readers either. And none of what you and I are doing has anything to do with being paranoid. I would not share my info with a stranger in a movie line or somebody in a checkout line at the store, so why Facebook or any website? Zuckerberg is an ASSHOLE. I watch him talk online sometimes about how he thinks that forcing people to use their real names and giving real information is not an unreasonable request. Really? Then why don't I have Zuckerberg's passport info or home telephone number? How come his wife does not have an account?

Those people who are giving in to the demands are those who have become addicted to Facebook over the past years. I do NOT fall into that category at all! The "masses" who have entire albums on there, contact lists and all those Facebook likes! They don't want to lose those 3,563 close friends on there do they? .

 

[Overmind One]

Exactly. If they REALLY want two step just implement one of the authenticator technologies that are web based - of which there are several.

Those are industry standard for all government assignments I have had, and some development houses. But you still have to give the same sort of personal information to be issued one, so that is not going to do it. Facebook is a social media site. In essence, it is just a huge international forum. It allows people to centralize their contact with their friends. But the price of citizenship in the Facebook Nation is just too high for what you get in return. Because it's reach is even deeper into more nations than the NSA and ISA, it has more granular info about people in tiny African towns and little villages in China and barrios in Guatemala than any government agency anywhere.